Signal apparatus for autovehicles.



E. A.'TAPPE. SIGNAL APPARATUS FOR AUTOVEHIGLES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 20, 1913.

1,1 04,281. Patented July 21, 1914.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

AT T ORNEY.

I E. A. TAPPE. SIGNAL APPARATUS FOR AUTOVEHIGLES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 20, 1913.

1, 1 04,28 1 Patented July 21, 1914 A -ngi 1:1

WITNESSES: By-

AT TORNEY 'rs .ar

SIGNAL APPARATUS FOR AUTOVEHICLE S.

To all whom it mag c012 cm Be it known that I, EDWARD A. TAPPE, acitizen of the United States of America, residing at Los Angeles, countyof Los Angeles, State of California, have invented a certain new anduseful Signal Apparatus for Autovehicles; andI do hereby declare thefollowing to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention,such a will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

This invention relates to signal apparatusfor autovehicles, and it maybe said to consist in the provision of the novel and advantageoufeatures, and in the novel and improved construction, arrangement, andcombination of parts and devices as will be apparent from thedescription and claims which follow hereinafter.

One object of the invention is to provide novel and improved apparatus.of the class specified which is adapted to indicate at a distance fromthe vehicle the intention of the operator to turn the vehicle to theleft, or to the right.

Further objects of the invention are to provide novel and improvedapparatus of the class specified which is adapted for both day and nightservice, is simple in construction, comparatively inexpensive, easilyapplied to existing vehicles, economical to install and maintain, easyto operate, convenient to use, attractive in appearance and effective inaction.

Other objects and the advantages of the invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art from a consideration of the followingdescription of-the preferred forms of apparatus embodying it, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a viewof the signal apparatus mounted on an autovehicle, which latter isindicated by dotted lines; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the signalapparatus; Fig. 3 is crosssectional view of a portion of the apparatus,

' taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a partly broken andsectional view taken on the line H of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is 'a-sectionaIview taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 i an elevational view of aportion of the apparatus, taken on the line 66 of Fig. 2; Fig. 7\ is aview of the signal arm and illuminating device, with the signal andmoved to one of its operative positions; Fig. 8 is a similar view withthe signal arm moved op- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July21, 1914:.

Application filed August 20, 1913.

Serial No. 785,788.

positely to the position shown in Fig. 7; Fig.9 is a-.,cross-sectionalview of the extension on the shutter, taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 6;Fig. 10 is a elevational view of the signal apparatus, showing a portionof the electrical operating mechanism; Fig. 11

is a cross-sectional view taken on the line- 1111 of Fig. 10; Fig. 12 isa plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 10; Fig. 13 is a frontview of the switch panel and parts thereon; Fig. 14 is a sideview of thesame,

and Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical devices andcircuits for operating the signal arm.

The illuminating device comprises a casing 21 provided therein withsuitable illuminating means 22, and having windows 23in the sidesthereof which windows are normally covered by shutters 24. The windows23 may consist of glass lenses 23 suit ably fitted in openings in thesides of the I casing 21. The shutters 2a are provided with extensions25 at the upper ends thereof and they have the lower ends thereofhingedly mounted on the exterior of the casing 21. Springs 26 arearranged to press against the shutters to make them self-closing. Thecasing 21 may have in the front thereof the usual white or red glasslens 27. A signal arm 28; of suitable size,.sh'ape and color, is movablyarranged on the exterior of and adjacent to the casing 21, preferably atthe rear, and is adapted to be moved at will against the rollers 29 onthe extensions 25 of the shutters 24 of either of the windows 23 touncover such window and eflect nal arm 28. The mechanical meanspreferably consists of a shaft 32which is rotatably mounted in a bearing33 on the bracket arm 30 and in a suitable bearing 34, suitably affixedto the, autovehicle 31;, and which has one end thereof secured to thelower end por-' tion of the signal arm 28 and has on its other end abevel pinion 35 in mesh with a segmental gear 36 secured fast on thelower part of a rod 37 which latter is rotatably mounted in bearings 38on the steering post 39 and has onrits upper part a handle 40. WVhen thesignal apparatus i to be used at both the front and rear of theautovehicle,

the signal arm shafts 32 may be operatively interconnected by means of arod ell which has its ends pivotally connected with the donwardlyextending crank arms 42 which are mounted on the shafts 32.

The signal arm 28 is normally disposed in position between theextensions 25 of the shutters 24. When the handle 40 is turned to theright from central or normal position, the signal arm 28 is turned tothe right and moves against the extension 25 of the shutter on the rightside of the casing 21, and when said handle is turned to the left fromnormal position the signal arm isturned to the left and moves againstthe extension on the left side of the casing 21. It will be understoodthat light flashes through the windows 23 when they are uncovered by thesignal arm moving against the shutters, and such light may be seen at adistance and also effects illumination of the signal arm so that theoperator may thereby at will indicate his intention to turn the autovehicle either to the right orto the left.

The electrical means for turning the signal arm 28 preferably consistsof a shaft 43 which is secured to the signal arm and which is rotatablymounted in bearings 44 on the bracket arm 30 and carries an armature 45which is arranged between the electromagnets d6 and 46 which latter aresuitably mounted on the bracket arm 30. When the electromagnets do andd6 are deenergized the weight oft-he armature 45 brings the signal armto and holds it in upright posit-ion between the extension 25. The panel4:? may be mounted within convenient reach of the operator and havethereon the hooded lamps d8 and d8, switch 419, and contacts 50 and 50'.#Vhen the switch l9 is thrown to the right to engagement with thecontact 50, the electromagnet i6 is energized to attract the armature l5andturn the signal arm to the right by means of current supplied bysource of electricity 51; the path of the current being throughconductor 52, switch 19, contact 50, conductor 53, lamp l8, conductors54 and 55, electromagnet 46, M l conductors 56 and. 5'7. lVhen theswitch all) is thrown to the h t to engagement with 1. contact 50, theelecti magnet db is eniaed to attract the armature and turn e signal armto the left by the current supplied by the source of electricity 51; thecurrent being through conduch of the a tor 52,.3witcl all), contactconductor 58, 8 1

amp all), 0' iductors 59 and 60, electromagiet d8 and conductors 81, 56,and 5'2. The operation of the switch arm by the electrical means movesthe shutters 2 L produces the results as already described in connectionwith the mechanical means. Fig. 15

weasel shows a double arrangement of the signal apparatus for the frontand rear of the auto vehicle.

It will be noted that the signal apparatus has the merit of beingextremely simple in construction and that it is well adapted toaccomplish the objects of the invention.

lVhile forms of construction embodying the invention have beenparticularly illustrated and described, many changes and modificationsthereof will readily occur to those skilled in the artwherefore theright is reserved to all such changes and modifications as do not departfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appendedclaims.

I claim:

-1. Apparatus of the class specified, comprising a casing having windowsin the sides thereof, illuminating means in the casing, hingedspring-pressed shutters on the exterior of the casing normally coveringsaid windows, and a rotatable signal arm arranged eirteriorly of thecasing and adapted tomove against the shutter of either of the windowsat will to'uncover such window and effect illumination of the signalarm.

2. Apparatus of the classspecified, comprising a casing having windows ithe sides thereof, illuminating'means in said casing, hingedspring-pressed shutters on the enterior of the casing normally coveringsaid windows, a signal arm movably arranged exteriorly of and adjacentto the casing and adapted to move against the shutter of either of saidwindows to uncover such window and eitect illumination of the signal armand suitable means for moving the signal arm at the will of theoperator.

3. Apparatus of the class specified, comprising a casing having windowsin the sides thereof, illuminating means in said casing, hingedspring-pressed shutters on the exterior of the casing provided with ex-.

tensions thereon and normally covering said windows, a signal armmovably arranged exteriorly of and adjacent to the casing and adapted tobear against the extension of the shutter of either of the windows touncover such window and effect illumination of the 1 signal arm, andsuitable means for moving the signal arm at the will of the operator.

4. Apparatus of the class specified, comprising a casing having windowsthe sides thereof, illuminating means in the casing, hingedspring-pressed shutters on the exterior of the casing provided with e:nsions thereon and normally covering said win- (lows, a signal armnormally disposed between said extension and notably arranged on theexterior of the casing and adapted to bear against the extensions of thesluitters of either of the windows to uncover such window effectillumination of the nal arm, substantially as described.

shutters to uncover the windows, said shutters having one end thereofhingedly mounted on the exterior of the casing and provided withextensions on the other end thereof, springs arranged to press againstthe shutters to make the latter self closing, rollers on saidextensions, a signal arm disposed between said extensions on theexterior of the casing, and means for moving the signal arm atwillagainst the roller onthe extension of either of the shutters to swingsuch shutter away from the window which it normally covers and effectillumination of the signal arm, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in thepresenceof two subscribing witnesses at .Los Angeles county of LosAngeles, State of California,'

this 15th day of August D. 1913.

EDWARD A. TAPPE,

Witnesses:

A. H. Lrmmns, ELLA Sco'rr,

